Crop Yields For Corn And Cotton Down Across The Country As End Of Growing Season Nears

The nation’s farmers are keeping a close eye on the onset of fall, as frost, delayed maturity and natural disasters in the south are all expected to have an impact on the final count. According to a September 2017 article from Successful Farming magazine, crop progress is “nearly on track” except in the northeast where many farmers don’t think they’ll be able to harvest before the stock-killing frost sets in. For those without an agriculture background, frost tends to occur when temperatures dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the type of industry-specific know-how that Caudill Seed is happy to offer those who reach out with product-related questions. That’s because Caudill Seed has been serving the Kentucky area for more than six decades, offering various seed and agriculture products to clients that range from sports turf managers to construction companies and landscapers. When it comes to the bread and butter of their field, however, Caudill Seed can commiserate with farmers who have to deal with the elements before the final harvest.

According to the Successful Farming report, “mature” corn as counted by the nation’s farm was at 12 percent, which is 6 percent behind a five-year average and the crop that’s causing the most concern. As for frost, Midwestern states such as North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin are worried about the onset of this issue that can seriously damage crops in a single night. The report notes that farms in the east and south are likely to experience season-ending frost in mid-October. Caudill Seed is no stranger to concerns over frost and has previously seen clients cover their crops with tar paper, mulch, plastics or blankets to prevent the frost from taking hold overnight. It’s a serious concern and remedies are of utmost importance to farmers, as crop yields essentially equate to income. However, hurricanes are understandably a larger concern for farms that are stuck in the path of a natural disaster. According to a September 2017 article from Successful Farming, Hurricane Harvey’s impact on the cotton crop out of Texas was mercifully minimal although it was admittedly “slow maturing” and comparable to corn’s current woes across the nation.

To those in the agriculture industry, living and working at the whims of Mother Nature is nothing new. What’s undoubtedly required is establishing a good relationship with an expert company like Caudill Seed. In return, you’ll have access to decade’s worth of advice that has worked for others in similar circumstances, whether you’re planting, building or combating erosion.